76 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1659. 



tressed condition of the col)ny. News of a threatened invasion 

 by the English reached the ears of the colonists, and added to 

 the general feeling of insecurity. In the midst of this anxiety 

 and alarm, commissioners from Maryland arrived with a letter 

 from Governor Fendal and instructions to command the Dutch 

 to leave, or to acknowledge themselves subjects of Lord Balti- 

 more.^ An immediate answer was demanded, but at length 

 Col. Utie, the head of the Maryland commission, granted a 

 delay of three weeks in order that Alrichs and Beekman might 

 confer w^ith their superiors. Upon being advised of the visit of 

 the Maryland commissioners, Governor Stuyvesant forwarded a 

 reinforcement of sixty soldiers, with Captain Krygier and Secre- 

 tary Van Ruyven to regulate matters on the South river. He 

 also sent Augustine Heemans and Resolved Waldron as ambas- 

 sadors to Maryland, wuth instructions to remonstrate against 

 Col. Utie's proceedings, and to negotiate a treaty for the mutual 

 rendition of fugitives. Upon the arrival of the ambassadors in 

 Maryland a protracted conference ensued, in which the Dutch 

 title to the lands on the Delaware river and bay was defended 

 with considerable ability.^ 



The land from Bombay Hook to Cape Henlopen Avas secured 

 by purchase from the savages, and a fort erected a Hoern kill as 

 a further security against the English claim. It was attached 

 to the district of New Amstel. 



Alrichs had become unpopular from the exercise of a too 

 rigid authority. The clashing of interests between the city and 

 the Company, taken in connection with the adverse circumstan- 

 ces with which he was surrounded, rendered his position one of 

 great difficulty. But death^ relieved him from his troubles 

 towards the close of the year — his wife having departed this life 

 at its commencement. Previous to his death, Alrichs nominated 

 Alexander D'Hinoyossa as his successor and Gerit Van Gezel as 

 secretary. 



The Burgomasters of the City of Amsterdam, soon discovered 

 that their colony of New Amstel would be attended wnth more 

 expense and trouble than profit, and entered into negotiations 

 with the company for a re-transfer of the same to them. Trade 

 was the prime object of the company, and as the city colony 

 served as a defence to the southern border of New Netherland 

 without diminishing their commercial advantages, the negotiation, 

 of course, was a failure. 



In September, 1659, Alrichs says there are 110 houses in New 



1 Acrelius, 422 ; N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 73. 



2 Dr. O'Callaghan attributes the position that the State of Delaware now occupios 

 as an independent sovereignty, to the stand taken by the Dutch in 1659. Hist. New 

 Netherland, ii. 388. 



3 Hist. N. Netherland, ii. 375 : Acrelius, 423. 



